9mm vs 7.65mm for a shooter?

paradox998 · 11-05-2007, 07:28 PM

I am looking for a shooter and am looking for advice on whether to go for a 9mm or a 7.65 mm. From what I see at ammo dealers is that 30cal luger seems to be about twice as expensive as 9mm. Any reason to go with a 30 cal? Thanks

Karl · 11-05-2007, 08:11 PM

Hal,

There is a tradition that .30 Luger is a slightly more accurate round than 9mm, however, as you have discovered, .30 Luger is A LOT more expensive. I have Luger shooters in both calibers and I can tell you that I can't shoot well enough to tell the difference. Unless you are a super marksman or rich enough to not give a damn, I would say go with 9mm. KFS

Steinar · 11-06-2007, 05:45 AM

..not yet tried a 7.65mm Luger

So I wouldn't know..

Ron Smith · 11-06-2007, 08:03 AM

The .30 Luger is by far more fun and more accurate. I hand load, so ammo price isn't a consideration.

Pete Ebbink · 11-06-2007, 10:38 AM

I take out my 7.65 mm Lugers a lot more than my 9 mm Lugers.

Especially in the 4-3/4" barrel length and a 6" barrel length.

The "compactness" of the shooting experience in 7.65 mm is enjoyable.

Makes the $ 17/box of 50 worth the price...

Vlim · 11-06-2007, 02:17 PM

Get a shooter Artillery luger in 9mm. Great accuracy and even more fun than a 4 inch or 6 inch .30 luger version.

spartacus38 · 11-06-2007, 04:43 PM

You can usually buy a .30 Luger for less than

a comparable 9MM. But, the ammo is more

expensive. So I guess it depends on how

much shooting you do.

I have found the .30 Luger to be more accurate.

I enjoy shooting both.

Bob

John F. · 11-06-2007, 08:10 PM

In my limited experience, I've found the .30 to be especially accurate.
Shooting my Commercial .30 with Winchester white-box FMJ, I had no
problem getting it to average 1.3" off the bench at 25 yards for several
5-shot groups. After rebarreling with a 6" commercial barrel, my better handloads averaged 1.245" for 5 five-shot groups at 25 yards.

My limited testing with a pristine DWM in 9mm (4" barrel) showed that it couldn't begin to approach that level of accuracy, shooting groups of several inches at 25 yards with Winchester white-box 9mm FMJ and a single handload using Win. 115 gr. JHP's (that shot with match accuracy in a bullseye-accurized Beretta 92 set up for NRA competition.) However,
that's just one specimen, and I never did attempt to develop a load specifically for that pistol, which might have shrunk groups some. The 9mm sure is a lot less finicky and easier to feed, in my experience, and components are everywhere. I search hard for every piece of .30 brass that turns up missing on the range, while with the 9mm, it's no biggie if a few go astray. I especially like the idea of getting a shooter 9mm Artillery -- that'd be my choice, if, like in "Highlander," "There can be only one!"

John

Pete Ebbink · 11-12-2007, 02:07 PM

Reblued Arty shooter for under $ 1200 :

http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...0&categoryid=9

Freischütz · 11-15-2007, 08:56 PM

Hello - I found the 7.65 more accurate and more functionally reliable than the 9 mm.

If you choose the 7.65, plan on reloading. As others have mentioned, ammunition is expensive and often hard to find.

Sticker · 11-17-2007, 10:35 PM

Howdy

As mentioned above, the 7.65 is more accurate, and more reliable. I have put around 400 rounds through my first Swiss luger, not a jam yet, with factory or reloads. A mag I have for my P08 that has a weak spring, jams with 9mm but works fine with 7.65.

Also, and very important if you reload, and you kind of have to with the 7.65, cast lead bullets group as well as jacketed in the 7.65. I cast Lee's 93 grn bullet, it's shoots as good as it looks, loaded in .30 Luger cases. Lead bullets in 9mm work, but nothing to write home to mother about.

Sticker

Rod WMG · 11-18-2007, 02:15 PM

I don't put a lot of stock in "inherent accuracy" these days. Often it is the guns themselves which show up better.

11-05-2007, 07:28 PM	#1
paradox998 User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 105 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	9mm vs 7.65mm for a shooter? I am looking for a shooter and am looking for advice on whether to go for a 9mm or a 7.65 mm. From what I see at ammo dealers is that 30cal luger seems to be about twice as expensive as 9mm. Any reason to go with a 30 cal? Thanks

11-06-2007, 05:45 AM	#3
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	..not yet tried a 7.65mm Luger So I wouldn't know.. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-06-2007, 08:03 AM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The .30 Luger is by far more fun and more accurate. I hand load, so ammo price isn't a consideration. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-06-2007, 04:43 PM	#7
spartacus38 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Lake Tahoe,CA. Posts: 695 Thanks: 0 Thanked 70 Times in 56 Posts	Which? You can usually buy a .30 Luger for less than a comparable 9MM. But, the ammo is more expensive. So I guess it depends on how much shooting you do. I have found the .30 Luger to be more accurate. I enjoy shooting both. Bob

11-06-2007, 08:10 PM	#8
John F. User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	In my limited experience, I've found the .30 to be especially accurate. Shooting my Commercial .30 with Winchester white-box FMJ, I had no problem getting it to average 1.3" off the bench at 25 yards for several 5-shot groups. After rebarreling with a 6" commercial barrel, my better handloads averaged 1.245" for 5 five-shot groups at 25 yards. My limited testing with a pristine DWM in 9mm (4" barrel) showed that it couldn't begin to approach that level of accuracy, shooting groups of several inches at 25 yards with Winchester white-box 9mm FMJ and a single handload using Win. 115 gr. JHP's (that shot with match accuracy in a bullseye-accurized Beretta 92 set up for NRA competition.) However, that's just one specimen, and I never did attempt to develop a load specifically for that pistol, which might have shrunk groups some. The 9mm sure is a lot less finicky and easier to feed, in my experience, and components are everywhere. I search hard for every piece of .30 brass that turns up missing on the range, while with the 9mm, it's no biggie if a few go astray. I especially like the idea of getting a shooter 9mm Artillery -- that'd be my choice, if, like in "Highlander," "There can be only one!" John __________________ John

11-05-2007, 08:11 PM	#2
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 530 Thanks: 0 Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts	Hal, There is a tradition that .30 Luger is a slightly more accurate round than 9mm, however, as you have discovered, .30 Luger is A LOT more expensive. I have Luger shooters in both calibers and I can tell you that I can't shoot well enough to tell the difference. Unless you are a super marksman or rich enough to not give a damn, I would say go with 9mm. KFS

11-06-2007, 10:38 AM	#5
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	I take out my 7.65 mm Lugers a lot more than my 9 mm Lugers. Especially in the 4-3/4" barrel length and a 6" barrel length. The "compactness" of the shooting experience in 7.65 mm is enjoyable. Makes the $ 17/box of 50 worth the price...

11-06-2007, 02:17 PM	#6
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Get a shooter Artillery luger in 9mm. Great accuracy and even more fun than a 4 inch or 6 inch .30 luger version.

11-12-2007, 02:07 PM	#9
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Reblued Arty shooter for under $ 1200 : http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...0&categoryid=9

11-15-2007, 08:56 PM	#10
Freischütz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 125 Thanks: 9 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	Hello - I found the 7.65 more accurate and more functionally reliable than the 9 mm. If you choose the 7.65, plan on reloading. As others have mentioned, ammunition is expensive and often hard to find.

11-17-2007, 10:35 PM	#11
Sticker User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Howdy As mentioned above, the 7.65 is more accurate, and more reliable. I have put around 400 rounds through my first Swiss luger, not a jam yet, with factory or reloads. A mag I have for my P08 that has a weak spring, jams with 9mm but works fine with 7.65. Also, and very important if you reload, and you kind of have to with the 7.65, cast lead bullets group as well as jacketed in the 7.65. I cast Lee's 93 grn bullet, it's shoots as good as it looks, loaded in .30 Luger cases. Lead bullets in 9mm work, but nothing to write home to mother about. Sticker

11-18-2007, 02:15 PM	#12
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I don't put a lot of stock in "inherent accuracy" these days. Often it is the guns themselves which show up better.